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/// HD Camcorder Comparison



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models compared on this page: Canon HF M31 and Sony HDR-XR520

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Model

Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
Picture ?
Manufacturer Canon Informationen zu Canon

Sony Information on Sony

Name HF M31HDR-XR520
European name ?Legria HF M31HDR-XR520VE
US name ?VIXIA HF M31HDR-XR520
lowest US price 628 $1700 $
On the market since March 2010 March 2009
Manufacturers URL link to Canonlink to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
Video formats ? AVCHD
AVCHD
Recording Medium SDHC card
built-in flash memory
Built-in hard disk
Memory Stick PRO Duo
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
SD MPEG2 720 x 576
video resolutions US ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1440 x 1080/60i
SD MPEG2 720 x 480
Max Bitrate ?24 Mbit/s16 Mbit/s
Compression format ? MPEG4
MPEG2
MPEG4
on-board memory ?32 GB240 GB
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ? Canon
Sony
Optical Zoom ?15 x12 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?39,5 mm42,9 mm
Filter diameter ?37 mm37 mm
Image Stabilization ?optically and electronically
optical
ND Filter ?No
No
Exchangable optics ?No
No
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?11
Size of image sensor ?1/4 inch1/2,8 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?2990000 Pixel  
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/800
Maximum shutter time ?1/21/50
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Infrared recording ?No
 
Expanded Focus ?Yes
 
Peaking ?No
 
Signal Processing
Zebra ?No
No
Histogram ?No
No
adjustable sharpness ?Yes
 
Adjustable color ?Yes
 
Cinegamma ?Yes
 
Black Strech ?No
 
Knee ?No
 
Colorbars ?No
 
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
 
Custom Presets ?No
 
Set Time Code ?No
 
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		No
About Special Equipment
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		 Out
Out
HDMI ?Out mini
 Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		--
USB ?USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Microphone / Audio input ?Mini-jack
Mini-jack
Headphones ?also AV-output
3.5 mm mini-jack
Lanc ?No
No
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ?Advanced Mini
 AI
HD-SDI ?No
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 320 g510 g
Weight (with battery) 380 g590 g
Battery type Canon BP-808
 
Battery capacity 890 mAh 
Charger ?internal
internal
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height 60 mm71 mm
Width 68 mm75 mm
Depth 123 mm134 mm
Relative Size ?57
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?No
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?- Color
Viewfinder format ?- 16:9
Viewfinder pixels ? 123200 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 2,7 Inch3,2 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?211000 Pixel 307200 Pixel
Touch Screen ?Yes
Yes
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Rocker
Zoom ring multi-assigned
Manual Focus ?Menu
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Manual Aperture ?Menu
Wheel
bi-functional focus or aperture wheel
Focus switcher ?No
No
ND Filter ?No
No
Exp Lock ?No
No
Gain ?No
No
White balance ?No
No
Push AF ?No
No
Audio Levels ?No
No
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		No
No
Audio

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
Audio Formats ?Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
AC-3 Dolby Digital 5.1 640 kbit max.
Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
Microphone ?Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Stereo internal
Mini-jack external
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
Audio levels ?Screen
 
Still

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
Recording Medium ?built-in flash memory
SDHC card
Memory Stick Duo
hard drive
Medium included ?No
 
Effective pixels ?  
Resolutions ?2304 x 1296 - Max
4000 x 3000 - Max
Standard ?JPEG Exif 2.2
JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ?Yes
Yes
Misc.

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
Specials  GPS with geo-tagging functionality
Product Shots

[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
View 1
 
View 2
 
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ?  
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?SatisfactoryVery good
Resolution ?GoodVery good
Color performance ?Very goodVery good
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySufficient
Wide Angle ?SatisfactoryPoor
Configuration / image ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Configuration / sound ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Handling ?GoodGood
Portability ? Excellent Very good
Photo function ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Optics ?GoodGood
Dynamics ?GoodGood
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Good
Good
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		369364
Pros + Many manual controls
+ very good low-light sensitivity
+ iris control ring and touch-focus work together very nicely
Cons - No Zebra
+ very few possibilites for manual control
Conclusion A big drawback from the previous series has been fixed: setting the focus works much better thanks to the touch screen.But overall the operation is still somewhat fiddly at certain points.The large display of the upcoming HF S series will thus come in handy. On the minus side we have the low light capabilities, the missing zebra mode and the small wide angle.A plus is the lowered price, as well as the cinegamma/25p-mode and the fact, that the camera, given enough light, produces very consistent images in the auto mode.The Low-light picture quality is very good and sets a new standard for the sub 1000 euro camcorder classBut there is no histogram, no zebra, no shutter-control, no focus assist and no picture adjustmentThis is sad, especially because Sony could probably unlock these functions via firmware
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Canon HF M31Sony HDR-XR520
slashCAM Review
HF M31 Review
HDR-XR520 Review
external reviews/tests   
Forum posts  Final Cut Pro plugin for SonyHDR-XR520VE
Camera Case for SonyHDR-XR520VE
SonyHDR-XR520VE flickering beam on BRAVIA TV
Buy Panasonic HDC-HS300 / Canon HG21 / SonyHDR-XR520VE
Wide Anglefür XR520 + Beginner Questions
HD video import of SonyHDR-XR520VE in Final Cut Express (Mac)
Lens / wide Anglefür SonyHDR-XR520VE


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 12.Februar 2012 - 06:23
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